Idea/question- Could you, when creating the hole for the light, simply leave the outside cover on? That way you could open and close it without there being a lamp sticking out. Besides the obvious increased risk of fire due to accidentally leaving the light on and closing the book, is there any other reason you can't do this?

But wait! what if a comet hits the power station, and there's a huge power surge!!! even your little light will surely burst into flames!!! or worse smoulder releasing undetectable toxic gasses that will make me lose my mind and just start setting stuff on fire!!!!

to all the people that keep the morons among us from blowing up the neighborhood, thank you. keep up the good work. hope you can take a little ribbing. if not, sorry. didn't mean to offend . but this guys project seems well, a little on the safe side to rate so much concern.. take care.

Oh no! It's paper! It's just like the Hindenburg! A fireball waiting to happen! You must immediately retract this instructable and redo the project using asbestos sheets to prevent fire because nobody that reads this will have the common sense to not put a 100W bulb in it and then not leave it unattended!!! NO!!! Wait!! I didn't say use asbestos!!!! There might be people out there that will cut it up and rub their faces with it and inhale it, because not everyone knows for the last 50 years we've known that asbestos causes lung cancer!!!!!! Better yet, use sheet metal! That will NEVER cause a fire situation... unless the wireing DOES become old and frays... because these things happen... then you have... an ... electrocution ... hazard? Um... 110 volts... maybe not... BICYCLE HELMETS!!!

It's not a desecration of a book if you use one of those old college textbooks which has been replaced by a more modern version. As a former English teacher and book lover (I'll never be an electronic book junkie), I think it is a nice way to honor something that has served us well and is now recycled!

if you had the time or the inclination you could paint all the sheets of paper with waterglass,which is a type of sodium silicate, this would make the paper fire proof. i've used this method to make the outsides of paper rockets..

I like the look! But, destroy a book!? May I respectfully suggest using outdated printouts or utility bills instead? Fanfold them, staple in fold line, then cut out. Or don't fold, just staple one long edge before cutting the notch. Then use a fluorescent bulb (or LEDs) to minimize heat. Fireproofing hint: Borax solution is an old fashioned "fireproofing" treatment for both paper and cloth.

Oh man, I'm SUCH a fan of book burnings. I plan on starting a cult on book burning, Mainly, no, exclusively on advanced math books. And within this cult, I'll save a special inner group devoted to Differential Equations. Destroy a book? Hell ya! Physics, Geometry, Statics and Trig books will be spared, ya, ya, whatever, call me a hypocrite.

--To the designer of this instructable. I LOVE IT! Well, except for you didn't seem to use an evil math book. But still, love it, great job!

No, no NO!!! Not the useful books! Even if *you* don't like them, they are still useful to someone else... I say go for the trashy romance novels and other tripe that is just a waste of the paper it is printed on. At least that way you get some real usage out of the materials!

Wouldn't it be boring if we all liked the same stuff? We need your brilliance in the maths and sciences for sure, but it doesn't undue the nights of utter frustration trying to understand the concepts and dreading exams where the failure of them would possible kick us out from school that many of us fear. I had to leave university because statistics was a mandatory course, and I failed it. No stats-no degree. That was certainly a bad head trip.

PorcupineMamma, if you like, I'll make an exception and you can burn your Statistics book in my envisioned Cult. Although, you will have to also bring some nasty(er) Math book. I'll lend you a Thermodynamics book (really great burn'n!). Oh, could you also bake some chocolate chip-chocolate cookies too?

well... not all of us. I've been married for 32 years, and romantic candle light dinners and summer picnics have been lots of fun, and added to the intamacy of our relationship. My husband is an engineer and I am for the most part, very artsy. I did my paramedic course to prove that I could master some basic science concepts, but it wasn't the easiest thing I've ever done. I think that the "Men are from mars, Women are from venus" concept explains how arts and sciences people can share their gifts and come up with winning results. So.. gotta go now. My pink froo froo macrame awaits ;0) ;0) lol Have a logical and romantic day. Peace

Actually, I think it should be fine. According to unsubstantiated sources on the internet, the surface of a 60 watt incandescent bulb will reach about 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Wikipedia says that the temperature at which book paper combusts is closer to 800 degrees Fahrenheit (not, sadly 451 degrees; that's Celsius.) As long as the electrical connections are secured to prevent sparking, I think it should be fine. But it's true that you should be careful; after all if you're using an old book, you don't know what's _on_ the pages that might have a lower temperature of combustion. I would use LED or CFL bulbs, and I wouldn't trust the lamp until it had been operating consistently for a few hours without bursting into flames. Might want to keep it on a non-flammable surface as well, just in case.

But what if there's a short or the light bulb explodes? These things happen, and even if you dutiful and the electrical connections are super safe, things age. Somebody accidentally yanks on the cord, bugs get in there, who know. Then the next thing you know your house is on fire. Anyway, here's the solution: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_14?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=fire+retardant+spray&sprefix=Fire+Retardant&ih=1_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0.4258_1&fsc=-1